Protractor
Protractor is a specialized shop management software designed for automotive repair and tire businesses to streamline their entire workflow from digital inspections to real-time financial reporting and inventory.
Tekmetric
Tekmetric is a cloud-based shop management system designed to help auto repair shop owners streamline their entire workflow from digital inspections to integrated payments and customer communications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Protractor | Tekmetric |
|---|---|---|
| Website | protractor.com | tekmetric.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2003 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada | Houston, USA |
Overview
Protractor
Protractor provides a comprehensive cloud-based platform to manage your automotive repair shop or tire business more effectively. You can move away from paper-based systems by using digital inspections, automated maintenance reminders, and integrated parts ordering. The software connects your front-office service writing with back-office accounting, ensuring your financial data is always accurate and up-to-date without manual data entry.
You can monitor your shop's performance through real-time dashboards and detailed reporting that tracks technician productivity and profit margins. Whether you manage a single location or a large franchise, the platform scales to handle complex inventory needs and multi-site management. By centralizing your customer communication and service history, you can build stronger relationships and increase your average repair order value through professional, transparent digital vehicle inspections.
Tekmetric
Tekmetric is a comprehensive shop management system built to help you run your auto repair business more efficiently from any device. You can manage the entire repair lifecycle—from the moment a customer books an appointment to the final digital payment—within a single, intuitive interface. By moving your shop to the cloud, you eliminate the need for local servers and gain the freedom to monitor your business performance in real-time whether you are at the shop or at home.
The platform focuses on transparency and speed, allowing you to build trust with your customers through detailed digital vehicle inspections and instant text-to-pay options. You can easily track parts inventory, manage technician productivity, and analyze financial reports to identify growth opportunities. It is designed specifically for independent auto repair shops and multi-location enterprises looking to modernize their operations and improve the overall customer experience.
Overview
Protractor Features
- Digital Inspections Create professional digital vehicle inspections with photos and videos to share directly with your customers via text or email.
- Integrated Accounting Manage your full general ledger and financial reporting within the platform to eliminate the need for external accounting software.
- Live Parts Ordering Connect with your preferred parts suppliers to check local inventory and place orders instantly without leaving the work order.
- Automated CRM Send automated service reminders and follow-up messages to your customers to increase repeat business and shop loyalty.
- Inventory Management Track your parts and tire stock in real-time across multiple locations with automated reordering points and barcode scanning.
- Technician Workflow Assign jobs to technicians digitally and track their progress through a visual dashboard to optimize your bay productivity.
Tekmetric Features
- Digital Vehicle Inspections. Create professional inspection reports with photos and videos that you can text directly to customers for instant approval.
- Smart Estimating. Build accurate repair orders in seconds by pulling labor times and parts pricing directly into your estimates.
- Tekmessage. Communicate with your customers in real-time through built-in two-way texting to share updates and get quick authorizations.
- Real-Time Reports. Monitor your shop's gross profit, average repair order value, and technician efficiency with live data dashboards.
- Integrated Payments. Collect payments faster by sending secure text-to-pay links that allow your customers to pay from their smartphones.
- Parts Procurement. Order parts from your preferred vendors without leaving the platform to keep your bays moving and reduce downtime.
Pricing Comparison
Protractor Pricing
Tekmetric Pricing
- Digital Repair Orders
- Customer Profiles
- Appointment Scheduling
- Basic Reporting
- Integrated Payments
- Two-Way Texting
- Everything in Start, plus:
- Digital Vehicle Inspections
- Advanced Reporting
- Inventory Management
- Technician App Access
- Labor Guide Integration
Pros & Cons
Protractor
Pros
- All-in-one system eliminates the need for separate accounting software
- Digital inspections significantly increase average repair order totals
- Deep integrations with major parts and tire suppliers
- Cloud-based access allows you to manage your shop from anywhere
Cons
- Initial setup and data migration requires significant time investment
- Steep learning curve for staff moving from simpler systems
- Higher price point compared to basic estimating-only tools
Tekmetric
Pros
- Intuitive interface makes training new service advisors fast
- Digital inspections significantly increase average repair order value
- Cloud-based access allows you to manage shops remotely
- Frequent software updates based on direct user feedback
- Seamless integration with major parts ordering platforms
Cons
- Initial data migration from legacy systems can be complex
- Higher price point compared to basic desktop-based alternatives
- Requires a stable internet connection for all shop operations